Card surcharge ban starts 1 October 2026: stakeholder kit released for small business networks
Cashflow
Government
Posted By - Court Sayer-Roberts
28 August, 2026
0 Comments
From 1 October 2026, card surcharges are set to end for many everyday card payments in Australia, including payments made through eftpos, Mastercard, Visa and American Express. The Reserve Bank of Australia says the reforms will also reduce interchange fee caps, which is expected to lower card payment costs for many businesses, particularly smaller merchants that often pay higher acceptance costs.
For small businesses, the change means now is the time to review merchant fees, speak with banks or payment providers, and prepare for any updates to pricing, point-of-sale systems, invoices, websites and customer communications.
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has released a Card surcharging – what you need to know Stakeholders Kit to help business networks share clear information with their members and communities.
Why it matters: Businesses that currently apply card surcharges may need to change systems and customer-facing information before the new rules take effect.
Who is affected: Small businesses accepting card payments, particularly retailers, hospitality venues, service providers, trades, health providers, tourism operators and online sellers.
